I graduated with a bachelors in computer science around 4 years ago. Long story short, I was depressed, dysphoric, and suicidal throughout my college years and by the time I finished I didn’t want to do anything. I’ve been unemployed for the last 4 years but I’ve also transitioned, started taking better care of myself, and overall I feel much better.
Anyways, I need to get a job now. What kind of lies can I get away with on my resume to cover up the long period of unemployment? Should I pretend I started some sort of company and it failed? Pretend like I went on some backpacking journey in a foreign country? Do companies even check all this stuff?
I did do an internship at a big tech company several years ago, and I’m working on personal software projects so I can put that on my resume. Also, I’m in Amerikkka.
Sorry if this question has been asked here before
if outright lies bother you, consider telling the truth in a way that gets you past automated screening/quick recruiter scans.
for example: I dropped out of a masters program, but I still put it under education with (unfinished) near it and the years I attended university. I get calls back for jobs that 'require' a masters, and by the time I'm talking to the actual hiring manager or potential peer in an interview they have never once asked about it.
with your particular question, consider telling the truth more or less as you described it at the top if it comes up deep in an interview process. It can be a good way to sus out whether the team you'd join will be transphobic or not.
that doesn't mean you can't lie on the resume either, I don't think it's mutually exclusive and you gotta go with what you're comfortable with